A male Statue of Liberty at Patriots Point?

Seeking to inject a lofty idea into a new land development plan for Patriots Point, an Atlanta-based group today proposed a male counterpart of the Statue of Liberty to stand guard over Charleston Harbor.

Details were scant, but the head of the National Monument Foundation said the Charleston area, with its rich history, is the most appropriate place on the East Coast to "wed" Lady Liberty with an complementary statue in the South.

The over-arching theme would be patriotism and freedom, said Rodney M. Cook, founder and of the foundation.

A computer rendering showed a statue of Liberty-like proportions, complete with a sunburst crown. It would face the mouth of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter.

Cook said an elevator could transport visitors to an observation area. The pedestal could house a high-tech museum that would celebrate South Carolina's pivotal role in the Revolutionary War and the state's effort to secede.

Ideally, Cook said, an island near Patriots Point could be built to house the monument.

"We're looking at a statue similar to the Statue of Liberty," he said.

Patriots Point Development Authority board members and staffers said today was the first time they had heard any details of the proposal. No action was taken.

"Wow," commented board member Harry Gregorie, who then asked the how much it would cost.

Cook said he did not have a firm number but estimated the statue would run anywhere from $100 million to $150 million, depending on the height. The bulk of the money would likely have to be raised from private sources.

Cook said the idea his to create an iconic attraction that would draw international recognition to Patriots Point. That, in turn, would make the property at Patriots Point more valuable.

The statue idea will be discussed in more detail next month at a series of workshops about how to develop the rest of the land at Patriots Point to create revenue to maintain the ships that make up aging naval maritime museum.

Cook's foundation led the effort to build the Millennium Gates monument in Atlanta and he initiated the campaign to save the 6,000-seat Fox Theatre and his foundation led the effort to build the Millennium Monument and the Prince of Wales's Olympic Games Monument in Atlanta. Cook also is a founding trustee of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Architecture.